Counterattack – Part 05
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Translator: Kell | Editor: Ryunakama
Rain poured down all night. Morning came and it was still drizzling, leaving the ground wet.
Stirring in my bed, I got up and twitched my whiskers at the neverending downpour. Zero apparently woke up before me. She was munching on a loaf of bread, looking out the window. When she saw me rise, she threw me a piece of bread from the pouch she was holding.
Biting into the bread, I stood behind Zero and peered outside.
“Do you see something?” I asked—or at least I thought I did, but all that came out of my mouth was a mumbling sound.
Zero looked at me as if she was watching a child. She mumbled something back, frowned, then washed the bread down with some milk.
“Apparently the princess is awake,” she reiterated, pointing toward the castle.
I spotted the princess staggering to the stables, with Gouda chasing her, his face pale.
“Where is Raul?!” she cried.
“I told you, he’s resting in the stables! Princess! Please go back to your room. You’re in no condition to be out and about.”
“Raul was struck by lightning right in front of me. By my own Magic! How can I rest when he’s suffering?!”
She was so distraught that it was hard to believe she was the same calm and collected princess. She must have woken up and bolted out of the room without changing her clothes, searching for Raul. The princess was wearing only a thin nightgown in this rain.
Face pale from anxiety and confusion, the princess reached the stables where Raul was resting. She looked like a lost child crying for her parents. She burst into the stables.
Zero and I also went outside, following Gouda into Raul’s room.
“Raul!” the princess called.
“I’m here,” the Beastfallen answered. He was lying down at the far back of the stable.
The princess’s expression quickly softened. She rushed over to Raul and fell to her knees. Cupping Raul’s cheeks, she brought their foreheads together.
“Thank goodness you’re alive… I thought I killed you!”
“I’m fine, Princess.”
“But my Magic—”
“I healed him,” Zero cut in. “No need to worry. Not even a scar remained.”
Startled, the princess turned around. Then realizing what she was wearing, she turned to Gouda. “Coat,” she said.
Heaving a deep sigh, Gouda took off his coat and put it over the princess’s shoulders. Pulling the coat around her chest, the princess gathered what little dignity she had left and looked straight at Zero. But her expression quickly loosened. Wearing a weak smile, she sighed.
“No. I can’t even put on a bold front,” she said. “Raul—no, not just him. All of us would’ve died if it weren’t for you.”
“There is no need to thank me,” Zero replied. “I did it for my own benefit. I would have been in danger had I not stopped the spell, and I could use the help of Horse over there and the soldeirs to slay the dragon, which is a top priority at the moment. As such, letting you die would have been a loss—”
I tapped Zero’s head to shut her up.
“Why would you hit me? I did nothing to warrant it.”
“Pro tip: times like this, just say ‘You’re welcome.’ You helped them, and they’re just thanking you.”
Rubbing her head, Zero muttered, “Yes,” and turned to the princess. “You are welcome.”
The princess’s expression softened.
“But it may be too soon to thank me,” Zero added. “I have taken Magic from you.”
“You negated it. Don’t worry, I remember.”
“Oh? And you are fine with that?”
“It’s probably for the best.”
Well that was surprising. I thought she’d be pissed.
“Back then, I lost control of my body. I was conscious, but the spell wouldn’t stop no matter how much I tried. Raul was struck by lightning as he came to me, and I couldn’t do anything. I…” The princess frowned, distressed. “I finally realized how terrifying Magic is. It was childish of me to think I could have perfect control of it. I firmly believed that Magic was a wonderful power that could save the world. But now…”
“Do you regret learning Magic?” Zero asked.
The princess’s face tightened. Zero’s expression was cold as ice from start to finish, but in my eyes she looked dismayed.
The princess’s gaze shifted from Zero to her hands. “Remember what I told you before? The first time a magical flame appeared in my hand, color came to my world. I said I loved Magic.”
“I remember.”
“My feelings haven’t changed. After what I did, after hurting someone important to me, I still love Magic. Sounds silly, right?”
“That it does.”
“I can no longer use Magic. Even if you didn’t block my ability to cast Magic, I would have done it myself.”
“Bullshit!” A low, furious voice suddenly rose. My hand went to my sword. I realized that it came from Gouda. “Losing your Magic is for the best? You would’ve forbidden yourself from using it? How can you say that, Princess Amnil? How dare you say that in front of me, right here in Altaria’s royal castle?!”
I understood why he snapped. Altaria lost the war because its heir had no aptitude for Magic. After surrendering unconditionally to Nordis, the kingdom was absorbed. But Nordis’ heir said she was glad she lost her ability to use Magic. I couldn’t blame him for lashing out.
“What do you think will happen if you lose your Magic? People surrendered to you because you have the gift. What do you think they will do?”
“I told you many times before, Gouda. I don’t think a leader needs to have the gift for Magic.”
“But some people don’t share the same sentiment. If they find out you’ve lost your ability to cast Magic, there will be an uprising. Another war will break out! How can you be so calm?!”
“You’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“You know I don’t have that kind of power!” Gouda slammed his fist on the wall.
For a moment, I thought about defending the princess, but it didn’t seem like the kind of conversation that allowed an outsider to butt in.
“I’ve been wondering about this for a while, Captain,” Zero interjected. She didn’t care about the mood at all. Ignoring Gouda’s irritated look, she cocked her head to the side. “Why are you, someone who can not use Magic, the head of the Magic Corps?”
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